Abstract: A coating hopper (10) for coating a radiation-sensitive emulsion on a photographic support (24) is fabricated from hopper bars (12) comprising an inlet slot (16) and a discharge slot (18), said bar (12) comprising a body and hopper lip (22), wherein the body of the bar comprises a metal or metal alloy and the lip area comprises a ceramic insert (30) with a high elastic modulus and low density. The hopper with the ceramic insert prevents the formation of streaks in the emulsion coating layer or layers on the support.

Abstract: A magnetically induced coupling and drive apparatus (10) useful, for instance, for conveying webs utilizes magnetically coupled first and second rotatable elements (20,32)and means for rotating one of the rotatable elements (20, 32) which causes the simultaneous synchronous rotation of the other rotatable element. Both first and second rotatable elements (20, 32) include a magnetic core (22, 34), a bonding layer (28, 36) at least partially surrounding the magnetic core (22, 34), and a wear and abrasion resistant layer (26, 32) surrounding the bonding layer (28, 36). The means for rotating (60) rotating one of the rotatable elements (20, 32) includes a ferromagnetic stator member (62) integrally associated with one of said first and second rotatable elements (28, 36).

Abstract: Rotary lithographic printing members are prepared from a non-porous zirconia ceramic that is an alloy of ZrO.sub.2 and a second oxide chosen from MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide or a combination of any of these. These printing members can be rotary printing cylinders having a zirconia alloy ceramic printing surface. Such cylinders can be composed of zirconia alloy ceramic throughout, or have a ceramic sleeve or shell mounted around a non-ceramic core. In use, the surface of the zirconia alloy ceramic printing member is imagewise exposed to infrared radiation which transforms it from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. These printing members are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable.

Abstract: A magnetic transport system (8) has at least one magnetic transport roller (20) mounted to a frame (10) for conveying a ferromagnetic web (12). The transport roller (20) has a magnetic core (22), a first bonding layer (24) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core (22), a first layer (26) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the first bonding layer (24), a second bonding layer 28 for bonding second layer 30 to the core (20). Second layer (30) comprises a wear and abrasion resistant material. Further, a ferromagnetic web (12) is arranged for movement along the magnetic transport roller (20) for transporting materials thereon.

Abstract: A printing member that can be imaged directly using a laser and is image erasable, the printing member includes a writing surface composed of a non-porous zirconia ceramic ZrO.sub.2 that is alloyed with a secondary oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide, and combinations thereof, the zirconia alloy being a non-porous ceramic and having a density of from about 5.6 to about 6.2 g/cm.sup.3 ; and an erasable bar-code printed onto the writing surface.

Abstract: Flexible and reusable lithographic printing tapes are prepared from a zirconia ceramic that is an alloy of ZrO.sub.2 and a second oxide chosen from MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide or a combination of any of these. These printing tapes have an average thickness of less than about 5 mm. In use, a surface of the zirconia alloy ceramic printing tape is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation which transforms it from a lydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. Such inked areas can then be used to transfer an image to a suitable substrate in lithographic printing. These printing tapes are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable.

Abstract: Reusable lithographic printing members are prepared from a zirconia ceramic that is an alloy of ZrO.sub.2 and a second oxide chosen from MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide or a combination of any of these. In use, a printing surface of the zirconia alloy ceramic is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation such as from a laser under controlled conditions to provide localized "melting" of the zirconia in the exposed areas. Those areas are transformed from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. Such inked areas can then be used to transfer an image to a suitable substrate in lithographic printing. The printing members are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable, and can include printing plates, printing cylinders, printing tapes and printing sleeves.

Abstract: A method of making a microceramic optical shutter includes forming a sacrificial stator member and inserting the sacrificial stator member into the bottom ceramic portion in the green state, a top ceramic portion is sintered into the bottom portion to form a unitary ceramic body structure. The sacrificial stator member is formed with a sacrificial fiber wound in a helical fashion which is removed by etching. After etching ferromagnetic material is filled into the cavity to provide a helical coil.

Abstract: An improved materials feeder equipment includes highly efficient, durable, and wear and abrasion resistant sliding contact elements. In particular, the equipment has a feeder box and a ware plate arranged for sliding contact, each having high precision tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) ceramic or, alternatively, zirconia-alumina composite.

Abstract: Reusable lithographic printing members are prepared from a ceramic that is a composite of a zirconia alloy and .alpha.-alumina. In use, a printing surface of the zirconia-alumina composite ceramic is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation such as from a laser under controlled conditions to provide ablation of the zirconia alloy in the exposed areas. Those areas are transformed from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface that is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. Such inked areas can then be used to transfer an image to a suitable substrate in lithographic printing. The printing members are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable, and can include printing plates, printing cylinders, printing tapes and printing sleeves.

Abstract: Long wearing and reusable lithographic printing members are prepared from a ceramic that is a composite of a zirconia alloy and .alpha.-alumina. In use, a surface of the zirconia-alumina composite ceramic printing member is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation which transforms it from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. Such inked areas can then be used to transfer an image to a suitable substrate in lithographic printing. These printing members are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for translating a printing element relative to a frame has a wear resistant coating on translational rod bearings which support the element, such as a scanner, for slidable movement along a frame. Titanium nitride is coated over a hardened stainless steel core of the translational rod bearings and bearing pads which are arranged for sliding contact with the translational rod bearings. The bearing pads comprise diamond laminated tungsten carbide.

Abstract: Preparing an electrically conductive ceramic composite by the steps of:1) mixing and milling tetragonal zirconia alloy or a composite of zirconia-alumina with zirconium diboride, and2) pressing in a die and sintering in an argon atmosphere between 1300.degree. and 1700.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of making a micromotor in a ceramic, includes forming a sacrificial stator member, a sacrificial stator core with a plurality of teeth each having a central portion and a free-end and providing a tape cast ceramic material wrapped around the central portion of each tooth, and a sacrificial fiber wound in a helical fashion on the tape cast material; forming a micromolded ceramic bottom portion in the green state having a cavity for receiving the sacrificial stator member and an insert recess, and inserting the sacrificial stator member into the cavity.

Abstract: A method for preparing a ceramic article comprising compacting a particulate alloy of a primary oxide and a secondary oxide to form a blank, and sintering the blank in contact with substantially pure zirconium oxide. The primary oxide is zirconium oxide and the secondary oxide is selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, rare earth oxides and combinations thereof. Ceramic articles produced have tetragonal phase cores and monoclinic cases.

Abstract: A microceramic linear actuator includes a unitary ceramic body which has been formed with an internal cavity; a piston mounted for linear movement within the internal cavity and having a micromagnet with first and second poles of opposite polarity, and at least one shaft attached to the micromagnet; a conductive coil embedded in the unitary ceramic body and having a first portion wound in a clockwise direction and disposed in operative relationship to the first pole of the micromagnet, and a second portion wound in a counterclockwise direction and disposed in operative relationship to the second pole of the micromagnet.

Abstract: A method for forming an embedded multiwound microcoil in a ceramic substrate including the steps of forming a sacrificial mutiwound microcoil to be used in the ceramic substrate by wrapping a first sacrificial coil winding about the midsection of a sintered ceramic bar thereby forming a one winding sacrificial coil structure; dipping the one winding sacrificial coil structure in a sol-gel precursor and then forming an encapsulated one winding sacrificial coil structure from such sol-gel precursor; wrapping a second sacrificial coil winding about the midsection of the encapsulated one winding sacrificial coil structure thereby forming a two winding sacrificial coil structure.

Abstract: A method of making a printing member for providing an erasable bar-code including providing a polymeric substrate having an insert cavity; forming an insert member having a writing surface composed of a non-porous zirconia ceramic ZrO.sub.2 that is alloyed with a secondary oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide, and combinations thereof, the non-porous zirconia alloy ceramic having a density of from about 5.6 to about 6.2 g/cm.sup.3 ; and providing an erasable bar-code image on the printing member by imagewise exposing the printing surface to electromagnetic radiation that transforms the printing surface from a stoichiometric to a substoichiometric state, thereby creating a printing surface having both image areas and non-image areas.

Abstract: A ceramic drive system includes highly efficient, light weight, durable, and wear and abrasion resistant sliding and rotating components. In particular, the components of the ceramic drive system has center links, center rollers and sprockets arranged for sliding and rotating contact and each comprising high precision tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) ceramic or alternatively zirconia-alumina ceramic composite.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of preparing a ceramic article which includes compacting a particulate alloy of a primary oxide and a secondary oxide to form a blank. The primary oxide is zirconium oxide and the secondary oxide is selected from MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3,CeO.sub.2 and rare earth oxides and combinations thereof. The blank is sintered in contact with a smectite containing sol.